Postdoctoral Researcher in High-Temperature Oxidation of Amorphous Metallic Powders

Job Environment:

Institut Mines-Télécom is a leading public group of engineering and management Grandes Écoles in France, consisting of eight public graduate Grandes Écoles and two subsidiary graduate schools. The group leads and develops a rich ecosystem of partner schools, economic, academic, and institutional partners, key players in education, research, and economic development.

Mines Saint-Étienne, a graduate school of the Institut Mines-Télécom, is responsible for education, research, innovation, industrial transfer, and scientific culture dissemination. With 2,500 students, 500 staff, and a budget of €50m, it has three campuses dedicated to the industry of the future, health and well-being, and digital sovereignty and microelectronics. It is ranked in the top 15 graduate engineering schools in France and the top 500 universities worldwide.

The 2023-2027 strategy of Mines Saint-Etienne is in line with that of Institut Mines Telecom. It aims to:

• Support the ecological, digital, and generational transitions and educate the people involved
• Support national and European sovereignty in microelectronics and digital technology

To support this strategy, it is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher.

Job Description:

The Georges Friedel Laboratory is a Joint Research Unit of the CNRS (UMR 5307) and belongs to the Institute of Engineering and Systems Sciences (INSIS). Located at Mines Saint-Étienne and supported by both supervising institutions (Mines de Saint-Étienne and CNRS), the laboratory brings together all the potential of Mines Saint-Étienne in the fields of materials, mechanics, and chemical engineering.

The LGF is a key player in academic research, in strong partnership with industry, positioning itself as a major actor in addressing issues such as:

• Durability and energy efficiency of components and factories
• From grain to factory / from material to component

The LGF is engaged with local academic partners in structuring networks such as LABEX MANUTECH-SISE, EUR MANUTECH-SLEIGHT, at the national level through participation in numerous Research Groups (GDR CNRS) or Research Federations (INGELYSE, HYDROGEN) and contributes to major societal projects at the national and international levels on topics such as decarbonized energy, hydrogen, and more generally the transition of industry towards digitalization with innovative materials and processes.

The SURF team: Surface, Reactivity, and functionalization. Our activities focus on the reactivity of surfaces and interfaces in materials in contact with the environment, and on the functionalization of surfaces to achieve specific properties or functions. The team also develops methods for analyzing surfaces and interfaces in materials.

Under the responsibility of Dr Maelig OLLIVIER, in collaboration with Dr Laetitia VIEILLE, your main tasks will be to:

1. Conduct experimental measurements of the oxidation of amorphous metal powders at high temperatures using thermogravimetric analysis and physicochemical characterizations.

• Characterization of the initial powders (SEM, EDX, particle size distribution, etc.)
• Effect of thermodynamic parameters (T, P(O2)) on the oxidation of amorphous metal powders
• Kinetic monitoring (t) of the oxidation of amorphous metal powders
• Characterization of the powders after oxidation (SEM, EDX, particle size distribution, etc.)

2. Model the interactions between amorphous metal powders and oxygen at high temperatures, considering the physico-geometric aspects of the studied system.

• Verification of heterogeneous kinetics tests
• Proposal of a reaction mechanism
• Physicochemical modeling
• Geometric modeling

3. Produce custom-made amorphous metal powders with different oxygen levels.

• Preparation of powder batches in a furnace by varying the partial pressure of oxygen

4. Disseminate the obtained results through participation in conferences and/or publication of articles in peer-reviewed journals.

• Aim for an article in a peer-reviewed journal such as Corrosion Science, Additive Manufacturing, or High Temperature Oxidation
• Presentation at an international conference on additive manufacturing
• Communications in France to research groups (GDRs) or scientific societies, for example

Tasks may change depending on the needs of the department and Mines Saint-Etienne.

The position is based on the Saint-Etienne campus.

Profile Sought:

You are in one of the following situations:

• A doctoral degree no more than 3 years old, in which case you will be employed as a post-doctoral researcher
• If your doctorate is more than 3 years old, you will be employed as a research and development engineer

And ideally:

• Holder of PhD degree in chemistry of materials, metallurgy, chemical engineering

You have the following skills, knowledge, and experience:

The candidate must have a PhD in the field of high-temperature oxidation and/or materials characterization and/or metallurgy of amorphous metals, with a strong preference for experimental work. He/she will work in a team alongside technicians, engineers, and faculty researchers involved in the project. In addition to qualities of rigor and autonomy, we are looking for someone who is comfortable with experimental work and capable of taking on an original, relatively unexplored subject to successfully achieve the objectives and promote the results through scientific communications (articles, conferences).

You recognize yourself in the following abilities and skills:

• Autonomy
• Good team communication
• Initiative

Why Join Us:

Institut Mines-Telecom is characterized by:

• A scientific environment of excellence
• A group with entities throughout France

Mines Saint-Etienne is distinguished by:

• A privileged working environment with a high student supervision rate and a high environment rate (support and back-up functions)
• First-rate experimental and digital resources
• Significant contract research activity (€11m/year in Research and Innovation contracts), mainly with industrial partners
• 25% international students, Member of the T.I.M.E. network and the EULIST European University
• A centre for scientific, technical, and industrial culture - La Rotonde - which is unique in France, and which has a major impact on society (> 50,000 visitors per year)
• Pleasant workplace, easily accessible by public transport and close to motorways
• Public transport costs reimbursed up to 75% (subject to conditions)
• Sustainable mobility package
• Staff committee that subsidises sports, leisure, cultural, and social events and activities
• The possibility of partial remote working
• 49 days annual leave

Additional Information:

Recruitment conditions:

• Fixed-term contract for a period of 12 months (renewable)
• Desired start date: 01/12/2024
• Remuneration will be set according to the candidate's profile, based on the rules defined by the Institut Mines Télécom's management framework
• Full time
• Position based in Saint-Étienne
• For internal use:
  • Category II - Job P - Post doctorant according to the Management Framework

The position is open to all, with accommodation available on request for candidates with disabilities. The job is open to civil servants and/or the general public. All applications may be subject to an administrative enquiry.

How to Apply:

Applications (CV, covering letter, letter of recommendation if applicable) must be submitted on the RECRUITEE platform no later than 15/09/2024: